Tsoureki (Greek Easter loaf)
Mahlab is a spice made from ground cherry stones and, along with piney gum mastic, gives this Greek Easter bread its distinctive flavour. Hardboiled eggs dyed red and pressed into the bread give its distinctive look.
Ingredients
- 500g/1lb 2oz strong white flour, plus extra for dusting
- 7g fast-action yeast
- 10g salt
- 60²µ/2½´Ç³ú butter, softened
- 75g/3oz caster sugar
- pinch gum mastic powder
- pinch mahlab (also called mechlebe or mahlepi, available from specialist delicatessens or online)
- pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 orange, zest only
- 150ml/5fl oz warm water
- 150ml/5fl oz milk
- handful sultanas
- 3 free-range eggs, hardboiled in their shells with red food colouring
- 1 free-range egg, beaten for egg wash
Method
Put the flour, yeast, salt, butter and sugar into a large bowl. Add the mastic powder, mahlab and cinnamon, then the orange zest. Pour in half the water and milk and mix together briefly, then keep adding the liquid and mixing until you have a soft glutinous dough.
Mix the sultanas through the dough, then tip out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until you have a pliable dough. Shape into a ball and rest for at least an hour, or overnight in the fridge, until doubled in size.
Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Divide the dough into three and roll into three strands. Plait the strips together, place on the baking tray and leave to rise for another hour, or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 210C/400F/Gas 6. Brush the top of the bread with egg wash and push the coloured eggs into the bread. Bake for 20-25 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.